Abu Dhabi: The Arab world’s first professional triathlete, Omar Nour from Egypt, hopes to inspire UAE people to live more healthily after being named the ambassador of the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi.

Nour has been training in the UAE capital for over two years and says he is aiming for a top finish at the ITU World Triathlon Series season-opener on March 7.

“The ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi is a dream for amateurs and professionals alike. I always say that if I can do it, so can anyone. This is the perfect race and it would be crazy for me to miss it when it’s happening right in my backyard. Not only do you get to see the best of the best perform, but you also get to race on the same course with Olympic champions”

Raised in Switzerland and educated in the US, Nour’s ambitions after leaving university were centred on the world of business rather than competitive sport.

Nour was involved in starting up no fewer than five companies and found himself putting off gym visits in order to cope with the daily stress of running his own company.

Weighing 105 kilos, he took on his first triathlon after a conversation with a friend.

He added: “To me, sharing the journey of where I’ve been and where I am headed is the most powerful message I can share with anyone. To inspire and motivate even just one person makes this whole pursuit worth it.”

UAE’s triathlon advocate has made Abu Dhabi his second home in order to prepare for his ultimate goal – making it to the 2016 Olympic Games.

Nour said: “Completing in this event means hitting another huge milestone on my road to becoming the first ever Egyptian triathlete to compete in the Olympics. The ITU World Triathlon Series is the pinnacle of the sport and the 2015 season is going to be a maximum point year. This is the first time a race of this level is taking place in the Middle East and my very first ITU race, so you can imagine the emotion around that for me.”

Having achieved podium finishes in the last two editions of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, Nour is keen to emphasise the importance that grassroots events can play, especially in the Gulf region. Speaking about the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi junior event – The Aquathlon – he said: “Developmental events in triathlon are the crux of the sport, especially in this region where the growth of triathlon has been on the rise recently. I am delighted to join forces with the event organisers and work together to create a legacy that supports the stars of tomorrow. The Aquathlon is definitely a step in the right direction.”

The Aquathlon takes place on March 6 at the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club and will feature distances for children from the age of three to 17.

Meanwhile, the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi takes place the following day on March 7 and features three course options: Sprint (0.5km swim, 20km cycle, 5km run), Olympic (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) and Maxi (2km swim, 80km cycle, 20km run). All course options can also be run with friends or family as a team relay. You can register for both events on the official event website at http://abudhabi.triathlon.org/enter.